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Friday, April 13, 2012

The Daily Dress: Full-Skirted LBD

When we think of the Little Black Dress, it's usually the sleek, slim-skirted model, right? But lately I've been dreaming about a fluffy-skirted dress in black cotton for summer. Like the Kate Spade number above. Wouldn't that be an incredibly useful dress to have in one's wardrobe? (Love it with the pink shoes and necklace!)

If I make my own version, I think I'll use New Look 6886. (I just got it for $1.99 at Jo-Ann! Yes, I have a Jo-Ann's now!)

I'd make View D, and add some box pleats to the flared skirt for extra fullness.

The fabric would be simple, like a black sateen or pique with just a little stretch.

Okay, I've now worked myself up into needing this dress. I have a sewing afternoon with a friend planned for this weekend, and I just want to cut out a ton of summer dresses. This one will be included!

43 comments:

I am totally down with that full skirted LBD! I prefer an A-line or fuller all the time as just feel more comfortable in that shape. I love both of your pattern suggestions & would probably try that little ruffly New Look jacket, too. Hmm... I have some black cotton in my stash that I should dig out! Great idea.

Just one comment, careful with the project runway patterns. It may be a personal fit or the make but I should have created muslins prior to using the two patterns I tried. The cut of Butterick and Vogue patterns I can make without any alterations lucky me!

http://www.simplicity.com/p-3079-child-girl-jackets-coats.aspx

http://www.simplicity.com/p-1858-misses-knit-dresses.aspx

Also, the child's coat pattern had pieces that overlapped causing me to have to cut into my other pieces.

I LOVE a full-skirted LBD. Somehow, it always feels very "Italian Summer" to me. Forget the little white dress for summer!My favorite LBD is a full-skirted jersey version I purchased years ago. It's starting to pill, but it flows so wonderfully when I walk. I've been wanting to make something to replace it when it finally bites the dust, or at least to wear as an alternative. And I've got yards of black stretch sateen sitting on my "to-do" pile. Hm.

I was actually thinking about this the other day - I have a black wiggle dress, but no plain full-skirted LBD!

I think they're absolutely perfect for any time of the year - and you can co-ordinate with absolutely any colour in the world!

If anything, I think it should be a wardrobe staple, full-skirted LBD's are perfect for both daytime and nighttime, you can spring them up with coloured tights/stockings and accessories, or go full class with a pearl necklace and tea-length gloves!

Oh hell yes - I find straight skirts so impractical for the summer - if we get summer in the UK it is usually humid, so tighter dresses are restrictive and bleurgh....And black because I have goth tendencies, though I'm trying to do colour, really I am!!!

OK, one other comment - how come, if I sign in using my Wordpress account, it will NOT let me post? (keeps telling me I've not entered the words correctly) It's fine for name/URL though. Don't get it.....at least it'll let me post eventually, there are other blogs it just won't even do that!

I am all for a full-skirted LBD. It's a nice change of pace from the usual. I recently made that New Look pattern in view A. It's cute and easy, but the sleeves for that view don't work. The elastic is several inches too long. :/

Hi Gertie,I actually started reading your blog after searching for a pattern. My Mum has been sewing for me for years, she's been sewing since she was 12, I believe (that'll be 48 years in September!), and have recently got into sewing myself.I am commenting on this post in hopes of getting a question answered. Your post from February 23, 2010 (http://www.blogforbettersewing.com/2010/02/suspender-skirts-of-yore-snappy.html), has a Simplicity pattern underneath the Seventies header. Do you think you'd be able to share the pattern number? Chances are very good we have the pattern lying around, but we'd have to go through about 12 boxes filled with hundreds of patterns! This would help enormously!I can't wait to read more of your blog!

if it's full-skirted, i'm always down!!!! i've been planning a black lace one for a year now. while i love how a pencil skirt looks, i don't like how constricted i feel wearing one (i fidget too much!!), so 99% of my skirts and dresses have full skirts. all the better for twirling :)

I really like those patterns too! Very cute! I made up one in black sateen using Lisette's 1878 The Diplomat. It turned out super cute and cool (its so hot here in the summer). Plus I'm finishing up Cosmotology school and we can only wear solid black or white. It'll be my summer staple!

I'm down with the full-skirted LBD, hard. Just finishing my version, which I dreamed up back in December, I think, and wearing it to a concert this evening. So I'm finishing this comment and getting prepared!

I just bought the pattern for 1803...its going to be my first (in 15 years) dress experiment! I choose the nothced out collar with the buttons. Found an adorable knome scene cotton for the full skirt, and a grougeous deep red for the top and hold the phone....acorn buttons. Not really the pin-up style I usally cling too, but I am also a sucker for woodland creatures ahahhaah wish me luck!

I just bought the pattern for 1803...its going to be my first (in 15 years) dress experiment! I choose the nothced out collar with the buttons. Found an adorable knome scene cotton for the full skirt, and a grougeous deep red for the top and hold the phone....acorn buttons. Not really the pin-up style I usally cling too, but I am also a sucker for woodland creatures ahahhaah wish me luck!